13 Healthy Snacks For Your Party Menu

Is an upcoming birthday party stressing you out? And what about the menu? That’s quite a task too. Birthday parties can often add a big dent in your efforts to eat healthily. Here’s how you can have your cake and eat it too (quite literally)…

Veggie sticks with hummus

This makes for a beautiful yet healthy snack your guests are sure to appreciate. To make it party like, serve your carrots, cucumber, and paprika sticks in squat whiskey glasses.

Fruit on a stick

Skewer a variety of fruit such as strawberries, grapes, oranges, papaya, apples, pears, and banana slices. For an interesting look, try using a melon baller to shape the fruit into rounds before skewering. Serve chilled with a dash of lemon and salt.

Yoghurt cups

Fruit-flavored yogurt with a few berries makes for a great dessert. Serve in mini plastic wine or mousse glasses. If you’re looking to excite the kids, serve in funky animal-shaped molds and jars

Devilled eggs

Devilled eggs are a great healthy dish to serve at parties. Garnish your eggs with a bit of paprika powder and coriander to give it color. If you’re feeling especially creative, try piping the yolk mix with a confectionery cone or add a different topping to each.

Salsa or guac and chips

Guacamole and salsa with some roasted chips are sure-fire party pleasers. They’re crunchy enough to mindlessly munch and don’t create much of a mess either.

Pineapple and cheese

Serve cubes of pineapple and cheese on toothpicks. For a party look, buy toothpicks with decorated ends (yes those flags and umbrellas will do!).

Chocolate-coated strawberries

You’ve got to please the sweet tooth and a fresh, healthy way to do it is with this delicious dish. Dip the frozen strawberries and bananas into hot chocolate syrup and leave to dry. Serve with toothpicks.

Wraps

Make healthy wraps with a variety of fillings. Explore cauliflower, peas, carrots, broccoli, and the all-favorite potato. Slightly stir fry them with olive oil, add seasoning, and fill into soft tortilla wraps. To serve, cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Bruschetta

This makes for a healthy yet filling appetizer. Pick a loaf of garlic bread and cut into bite-sized slices. Drizzle olive oil and pop into the oven for 5 minutes or dry toast them over a low flame. Top with chopped tomatoes, onion, and capsicum. Garnish with salt, pepper and top with basil.

Shrimp cocktail

If you haven’t tried this yet, try at once and add to your list. Besides looking beautiful in cocktail glasses, shrimp is high in protein and low in fat and calories. Just make sure you avoid bottled sauces to keep it healthy.

Sushi

It does contain rice but don’t write it off just yet. The starch content of the rice can be played around with based on the varieties and boiled instead of steamed to drain out excess starch. With its fish- seaweed combination it’s still one of the healthiest and most filling items you can serve at a party.

Mini idlis

Going down the Indian route? Serve idlis plain, or toss them with a dash or turmeric and some seasoning for a snack your guests are sure to love. Serve with fresh mint chutney and relish!

Paratha triangles

Low-fat paneer or soya keema make an excellent healthy filling for parathas. Just go easy on the oil and ghee when you’re making your parathas to keep them healthy. Serve with ketchup or mint chutney!